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Temporary foreign workers
What do I need if I want to work in Canada?
In general, foreign workers who want to work temporarily in Canada must have an approved job offer and a work permit before they arrive.
After receiving an approved job offer, the potential foreign worker should apply for a work permit. The officer will decide whether the applicant qualifies for the work permit and will assess health and security requirements. A work permit is usually valid only for a specified job, employer and time period.
There is a fee for work permits. In most cases, temporary workers may not undertake full-time studies and may not change jobs unless authorized by CIC.
Additional procedures apply for foreign workers who intend to work in Quebec.
How can I hire a foreign worker?
As an employer, you must have the job offer approved or “confirmed” by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). HRSDC assesses the job’s economic effect on the Canadian labour market and confirms either an individual job or a group of jobs. HRSDC examines several factors, including whether acceptable Canadian wages and working conditions are offered, whether qualified Canadians are available, and whether the work is likely to result in skills and knowledge creation or transfer that will benefit Canadians.
An HRSDC officer will approve the job offer if he or she determines that it will have a positive or neutral effect on the labour market in Canada. HRSDC may also provide an opinion on specific types of jobs where labour market shortages exist. The government may reach agreements with industrial sectors facing worker shortages to process work permits for needed workers faster.
In many cases, a foreign national can conduct business in Canada without a work permit (see the “Business people” section of this guide). In other cases, a work permit is required but an HRSDC confirmation is not—for example, when someone is working as a professional under NAFTA or as a skilled intracompany transferee. Some people are issued “open” or non-employer-specific work permits—for example, spouses or common-law partners of skilled temporary foreign workers or of students. For more details, see CIC’s Web site.
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